Deming Cycle (PDSA/PDCA)
W. Edwards Deming was an American statistician. He is associated with the rise of Japan as a manufacturing nation, and with the invention of Total Quality Management (TQM). Along with an other American quality guru – J.M. Juran, Deming went to Japan as part of the allied occupation forces after World War II. Deming taught a lot of Quality Improvement methods to the Japanese, including the usage of statistics and the PDSA cycle. In 1960 he was awarded a medal by the Japanese Emperor for his services to that country’s industry.
The Deming Cycle, or PDSA cycle, is a model for continuous improvement of quality. It consists of a logical sequence of four repetitive steps for continuous improvement and learning: PLAN, DO, STUDY (CHECK) and ACT. The PDCA cycle is also known as the Deming Cycle, or as the Deming Wheel or as the Continuous Improvement Spiral. It originated in the 1920s with the eminent statistics expert Mr. Walter A. Shewhart, who introduced the concept of Plan, Do and See. Deming modified the cycle of Shewart towards: PLAN, DO, STUDY and ACT.
The Deming Cycle is related to Kaizen thinking and Just-in-time manufacturing.
Benefits of the Deming Cycle
- Daily routine management-for the individual and/or the team,
- The problem solving process,
- Project management,
- Continuous development,
- Vendor development,
- Human resources development,
- New product development, and
- Process trials.
The 4 parts of the Deming Cycle explained
- PLAN. Plan ahead for change. Analyze and predict the results.
- DO it. Execute the plan, taking small steps in controlled circumstances.
- STUDY (check). Study the results.
- ACT. Take action to standardize or improve the process.